James Donaldson feels as if he’s starting over.

After ten frustrating months spent watching from the stands, the Bulls back-rower is back at the bottom rung on the Super League ladder.

Not that the talented teen has become a forgotten man, far from it.

But a serious injury lay-off almost wiped out months of hard-earned experience in one fell swoop and two games into his comeback, Donaldson still feels like he’s learning the ropes.

“When I first started playing I was a bit off the pace,” he admitted. “It’s just a case of getting used to the pace of the game again because the speed of it is incredible.

“When you’re injured you forget just how fast it is and when I came back I couldn’t believe it.

“It felt like a massive step again and it felt like I was 17 again, making my debut.

“It’s strange but my body’s getting used to it a bit more and that’ll help me.

“I’ve started to settle back into it again and if I keep getting the chances I’ve been given, hopefully I can prove I’m worth my place in the team.

“It’s tough to earn selection. Players will be coming back from injury soon as well so there won’t be as much space for me in the team.

“I’ll just have to do what I do best and prove myself again.”

It’s easy to forget Donaldson is still only 19.

When the Cumbrian ace snapped cruciate knee ligaments in a Challenge Cup defeat to Warrington last May, he already had ten months of top-level experience under his belt.

Donaldson made his debut against Castleford aged just 17 years and 294 days and has been touted for big things since, although he’s the first to admit there’s still a long way to go.

“It’s great to be back,” said Donaldson. “There’s no better feeling than playing in the first team week in, week out. I’ve still got a lot of work to do yet but hopefully that’ll come together soon.

“I feel good physically. There’s no problems with the knee at all. I just maybe feel I’ve got work to do on my skills during the game but that will come with game-time.

“It’s just things like tackle technique, timing and being in the right place at the right time.

“It’s my third year as a professional now. Obviously I was unlucky last year to get the injury but hopefully I’ve put all those things behind me now and I can just concentrate on my career and try to cement a place in the team.”

Donaldson returned from his lay-off in the 24-22 win against Harlequins at Odsal, keeping his place at loose forward for last week’s defeat at Hull FC.

And despite the eventual outcome of the KC Stadium clash, the former Wath Brow amateur impressed in a head-to-head with Hull’s monster back row, which included Craig Fitzgibbon, Willie Manu and Danny Tickle.

He said: “It’s my job at loose forward to put in the work and help the big lads out in the middle, then hopefully try to bring a boost to the team when I can.

“I played 70 minutes in my first game back but didn’t get quite as much at Hull. Obviously that’s because of the intensity of the game.

“It was a real tough battle and they had some big guys. Still, they didn’t get in the way of us too much but then caught us with a little nick at the end of the game.

“We always try and put ourselves in a good position as soon as we can and we did that at Hull. But we just need to start shutting the games off when we get a few points ahead.

“I think everyone can see that it’s just round the corner.”

While Hull’s pack resembled something out of Land of the Giants, the Bulls’ forwards had an average age of just 24.

None of the three starting back-rowers were aged over 21, with Donaldson joined by Tom Olbison and Elliott Whitehead.

Although it’s been a baptism of fire for the young trio, Donaldson reckons their presence is a major source of pride for the club.

He said: “It’s definitely something to be proud of and I think the fans can see that as well.

“We’ve got a lot of good young kids coming through and there’s more to come yet. There’s going to be a big pack there and hopefully we can build it to the same level it was a few years ago when everybody feared the Bradford pack.

“The step up to Super League brings players along a lot more than you can see in the academy.

“Everyone’s coming along strides now and making a big impression.”